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Cheshire Special Constabulary wins King's Award for Voluntary Service

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 17:09 · Archive

Cheshire's Special Constabulary has received the King's Award for Voluntary Service, one of the highest honours volunteer groups can be awarded in the UK. The award recognises approximately 145 volunteer officers who each hold the same powers as regular police officers. This makes Cheshire only the fifth Special Constabulary in the UK to be recognised in this way.

The volunteers support frontline policing and protect communities across the county whilst balancing their policing duties alongside other commitments such as work, family and education. Special Constables volunteer more than 50,000 hours each year, responding to incidents and tackling crime alongside their full-time colleagues.

Special Chief Officer Leon Boland said the award was deeply significant. 'To say that we are humbled and incredibly proud to receive the King's Award for Voluntary Service would be an understatement,' he said. He noted that across almost 200 years of volunteer policing, countless thousands of people have stepped forward to serve their communities. 'The Special Constabulary is one of policing's best-kept secrets. We have some truly exceptional people doing remarkable things, often without the recognition they deserve. This award changes that.'

Boland also acknowledged the broader support network. 'I want to thank our regular police officer colleagues, supervisors, staff, leaders and families who support our volunteers. Nobody achieves something like this alone,' he said.

Recently, 45 of Cheshire's Special Constables received specialist training in the use of tasers, response driving and deploying vehicle-stopping equipment such as stingers.

Cheshire Special Constabulary wins King's Award for Voluntary Service
Image: Northwich Guardian

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In this story: Cheshire Special Constabulary · Leon Boland · Cheshire · United Kingdom

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